Yosef Inventash, or Yossel Kovel, as he was known, was
the only person, one can say, who was the most admirable and excellent
blacksmith of all others in the town. His outstanding blacksmith skills
brought him widespread fame and prestige among Jewish wagon drivers (coachmen),
the townís farmers, and even among the greatest and richest landowners
from the surrounding area.

Jews from Pultusk, his hometown, used to relate that Reb
Yossel was truly an artist in his trade. He would design and create iron
doors for the houses of landowners and palaces. It was, therefore, natural
that the association of Christian blacksmiths took him in as a member of
their organization. And this was at a time in which there was almost official
sanction of anti-Semitism in Poland.

Aside from his efficiency and skill in his craft, he had
a warm Jewish heart. He enjoyed doing favors and he had much respect for
a Jewish scholar, a kind-hearted person.

When the Hitler forces took over the town, they tricked
and deceived the Jews, and they used Yossel and his skills &150; until he was
murdered in a bestial way. A short time after, the Jews were driven from
the town.

An honest and proud Jew was Yossel.

Let us remember him in blessed memory.

[Page 367]

Reb David the Woodcutter

by Eliahu Bullman

Translation donated by Harriet Brown

There is a big question, whether any of the Pultusker
Jews &150; and this includes his neighbors &150; if any of them knew his real family
name. For those who knew him, he was called David Woodcutter. And this
is because his "profession" was woodcutting for Jewish bakers in town.

Not everyone understood the secrets of this craft. Reb
David knew and had a feel for this work and the intimacies of every splint
of wood &150; and he carefully prepared every piece that would be fed into the
bakerís oven.

Whether it was a hot summer day or in winter during a
frost, Reb David was not deterred from his work, while he inserted an original
verse or an interpretation of the life of Adam that he learned at school
from a preacher or from one of the teachers in town.

There was a special harmony in this unlucky folksy Jew.
His soul was weighty with a genteel spirituality that went hand in hand.
He was killed by the Nazis.

The Rebbe (Jacob Hirsch Kukva)

by Eliahu Bullman

Translation donated by Harriet Brown

The correct name became Jacob Hirsh Kukva. For many years
he worked in my parentsí bakery. Nobody ever called him by his name, especially
us, the children of Reb Tsalel the baker. We called him the Rebbe, a name
that he earned. He was easygoing and respectable, he walked with measured
steps, moreover his patriarchal beard, which drew envy, made him appear
as a "righteous good Jew." He had a way of repeating words attributed to
rabbis about "good Jews" and, in fact, earnestly attempted to predict the
"finding" of hidden objects and, for example, what type of child a pregnant
woman will have &150; a boy or girl.

Notwithstanding the fact that all those years he was a
dedicated, hardworking laborer (a common, simple baker-boy as it was called
years ago). He was steeped in Yiddishkeit and his clothing was in harmony
with his being and his work.

In our house he was much like a family member. He was
happy in this setting and was joyous and warm toward all ten children of
Reb Tsalel the baker (from my oldest sister to me). It was no wonder that
there was a close bond of friendship.

At the onset of Hitlerís destruction, this devoted and
wonderful Jew died.

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